Can anyone shed some light on IUI odds?

[bballbaby]

Hello -

I hope you don't mind if I join your thread....I am new to this site....

Please bear with me - I could really use some positive encouragement as I feel
like my world is crumbling and I really haven't been sharing this with anyone outside of my DH.....

I am 30 and my DH is 28. I am devastated - my DH has had 3 SA and his last one was only 2.3 million (i'm not sure if that was post wash or not)...regardless I realize that this is super low. His mobility also dropped to 28% with only 3% on his morphology. He has a varicocele...the urologist just left a message about wanting to make an appointment for surgery or drugs to correct this. He did have previous SA that were 24 million with 70% moving - however his morphology has always been low 3-5%.

In the meantime I have been getting checkout out - my tubes are open and the only thing they can find wrong with me is slightly elevated prolactin levels.

We have an appointment with the RE soon and I am trying to prepare myself emotionally with the news.
Do you think they will even recommend IUI?
I have been researching IVF - is that the route that we may have to take in order to become parents?

Again - thank you for your time and sharing your experiences.
I could really just use some hope right now. I have always wanted to become a mom...

 

[MarsMaiden]

MrsJPC - what does the pregnyl do after ovulation? I am baffled by all the different meds that are used! I feel for you, my latest niece was born just over 3 weeks ago and I had so wanted to be pregnant before she was born. I just try and enjoy the pleasure now though of going round for cuddles and hope some of the baby vibes rub off!

Sammy - so sorry that it didn't work out for you this time. Are you going on to another cycle?

Troysmam - so sorry hon, I can imagine how hard it must be for you. Perhaps if you give the weightwatchers a go for a few months and can prove that you are making good progress you will have a good case to take to the PCT for them to bend their rules on the BMI?

Gille - thanks hon, I hope she stays away too! Wow, you got your BFP at 7/8dpo? Did you have multiple follies?? Sending good thoughts for a happy and healthy 9 months for you!

zeezee - hey there! 3 follies is great! For IUI, most clinics will only carry out the procedure if there are no more than 3 dominant follies due to the risk of multiples, some will only allow 2. At those sizes sounds like you have a good chance of at least two and maybe all 3 maturing.

 

[MarsMaiden]

Hi bballbaby! I can't help too much I'm afraid as I don't know much about varicoceles but generaly the quality of the sperm is important in IUI as all the fertilisation needs to take place naturally. With the numbers you describe I imagine they might refer you straight for IVF/ICSI. But they may wait to see whether surgery improves things and small lifestyle changes really can make a difference. My dh cut back on alcohol and took some vitamins (zinc, selenium and omega 3) and his motility improved over a couple of months from less than 50% to 95%.

It is hard but try to be positive, there is an identifiable problem with the varicocele and once that is fixed you will have every chance of falling naturally or being able to try IUI

*hugs*

 

[Gille01]

Thanks, Mrssunshine!
Mars, thanks! I only had one follicle but a double IUI. The poor thing was surrounded before it had a chance to run Glad AF hasn't shown her face to you! She better not show up!

 

[bballbaby]

Thank you Mars

He has been taking a bunch of vitamins for 3 months now - maybe it is
just taking some more time...i dunno.

Thanks for the positive vibes
Have a good day!

 

[Britt11]

Thanks, Mrssunshine!
Mars, thanks! I only had one follicle but a double IUI. The poor thing was surrounded before it had a chance to run Glad AF hasn't shown her face to you! She better not show up!

Gille, did you happen to do OPK testing as well with your IUI? Our clinic doesnt do follicle tracking if the woman responds to OPK, i am just suppose to go in the day AFTER my positive opk. I think this month we are going to do the day after the positive opk and also the following day like you- double IUI- but I still hope we have the timing right
cheers,

 

[Gille01]

Gille, did you happen to do OPK testing as well with your IUI? Our clinic doesnt do follicle tracking if the woman responds to OPK, i am just suppose to go in the day AFTER my positive opk. I think this month we are going to do the day after the positive opk and also the following day like you- double IUI- but I still hope we have the timing right
cheers,

I did use OPKs too. My cycle was a wait and see cycle because they didn't think my hormones would pick up enough for me to ovulate based on CD2 tests but I did them anyway and got a smiley right before my 2nd checkup. I think it helped me. I got my positive OPK almost exactly 24hours before my first IUI then the second IUI the next morning. All around 10am.

Its not over till the red lady sings and if the hag does sing this month, I'm praying she'll take a long hike starting next one!! Luck!

 

[Joli]

bballbaby - I haven't posted here ina while, but I've been following the news of the ladies - your story really touched me, because I've been in a similar situation... my DH got tested for varicocele, and believe it or not, we were hoping that he did have it, because the urologist said that it would in the vast majority of cases cure the low count and motility etc. - the varicocele causes the spermies to get too hot, and once the varicocele is removed, there is almost an immediate recovery of the sperm back to where it would have been (i.e. your DH's first SA). For us, it turned out that DH just had really low count, in one SA, he had motility of only 14% and morphology of 4%. We were so depressed, and didn't think we had any chance. The doc put DH on Menevit, and my dad suggested DH also takes Speman (google it) and it pretty much doubled his sperm count and improved motility to 30% (morphology stayed at 4%). We had IUI and got our bfp first time round - our washed sperm count was 15 million. I believe statistic say if you have a washed count of 20million +, this is the most ideal and you have a really high chance, if you have between 10 - 20 million, your chances are pretty good, and under 10 million, you still have a chance, but it's lower. With 2.3 million, I would guess (and this is just a guess) that most docs would recommend you go straight for IVF - but like I said, once your DH's vericoclele is removed, I think you'll both be pleasently surprised about the huge improvement, and most people can concieve naturally after that - it has an awesome success/recovery rate! We were told that the surgery is fairly minor (freaky for DH cause it involves his bits!), but I really would be so positive about it, it will make a huge difference for you two!

 

[MrsJPC]

Mars - the pregnyl is supposed to support my lining for implantation? I had one jab at 3 days after and one at 10 days after.

Welcome Zeezee - 3 follicles is good news. My clinic will not do IUI if you have more than 3, so I had to have one drained away. I produced 4. Are you in the States though? I think the rules may be different.

Welcome too bbballbaby! I think there is a thread somewhere about your partners condition (sorry I can't spell it!) The thread was really positive it was in the success section

Still feel like the witch is on her way. I cannot for the life of me figure when she is supposed to be due. I am afraid my positive attitude has disapeared today! I just wish it was the weekend. Least I would know one way or the other. Why is this so bloody hard?

x x x

 

[lola13]

My clinic is the same in scheduling IUI the day after +OPK. I'm a little worried about the timing b/c I had EWCM yesterday but still only HIGH on CBFM this morning. I expect to get my peak tomorrow. So that means EWCM on Tuesday, +OPK on Thursday, IUI on Friday. Does this seem too far out from EWCM? I'm frustrated that DH doesn't feel like BD, but instead wants to wait for one good shot at IUI. Do you guys think OPK's are more reliable than EWCM? You would think so, right?

 

[mrssunshine78]

hi lola

i use cbfm and i went on the morning of my 1st peak (it was a friday so maybe thats why?) i had ewcm for quite a few days before the iui. i do think that the opk's are more reliable cos you get ewcm when your oestrogen levels rise, and you get your peak (or pos opk) when your lh is at its highest and this is when the follicle is released.

hth

good luck
xx

 

[MarsMaiden]

bballbaby - sorry, I should have known in this forum I would be teaching granny to suck eggs! But from what Joli says, it sounds really positive that surgery could solve your ttc problems. good luck!

mrsJPC - ah ok, so it does the same thing as the progesterone then! It is really hard isn't it, i am struggling so hard to distract myself and its not working, especially during the day while I'm at work. have taken the day off tomorrow and am going shopping for a much needed break!! Of course I won't buy clothes *just in case* but hey I can wear shoes and accessories any time!!

I was bad and did another test this morning, I just thought I would use up the ICs I have. Of course it was a BFN. I have another one to use tomorrow morning and then I'll wait til my proper test dates on Sunday and Monday and break out the FRERs. Although it is disappointing seeing the BFNs, I think it is actually making it easier for me. Its like breaking down the disappointment into smaller chunks rather than having a huge amount of expectation on Sunday and a big crash.

Hope everyone is doing OK...

 

[lola13]

I finally got my peak on CBFM this morning, so it's IUI for me tomorrow! It will be hard to hold off on BDing tonight, but I will preserve the spermies.

Good luck to all the waiters & testers!

 

[Britt11]

Marsmaiden- good luck with the testing. I agree, I think its better to do early ones than to wait it out for just one day. Hope you get your bfp

Lola- good for you Lola, I may be going in for IUI tomorrow as well, we will see after I do my opk in a few hours.

good luck to everyone

 

[zeezee]

IUI tomorrow for me too! So scared and excited.

 

[lola13]

Oh great! Sounds like there may be 3 of us in the same boat. Makes me feel much less alone

Did you both have positive OPK's today? When did you last BD? I'm so paranoid about having IUI too late & missing ovulation. We BD'd last night and having IUI at 9:30 tomorrow morning.

 

[Britt11]

Hi Lola, I confirmed just now the positive opk, so i will be going in for IUI tomorrow for sure. We BD yesterday morning, so that gives us only 2 days- the clinic wanted 3+ days but we were kind of sick of everything so planned around TTC, so oh well....I think that should be more than enough.
Lola, how is your OH's SA?

good luck to all the girls tomorrow!!!!
xx

 

[zeezee]

Lola and Britt, I am so super glad there are 3 of us (at least) doing this on the same day! I had a + opk this morning, but I am also on clomid and had a trigger shot this morning just to make sure the two mature follicles release. Like you Lola I am super worried I will miss the window - the hosp where I go said no BD today, save the spermies for tomorrow, so we did the dance yesterday and IUI is at 1.30pm (usually its in the morning on Fridays but my DH is on crutches and getting off them tomoz so they let us come in later ). DH's sperm analysis was infuriatingly perfect - infuriating because now he refers to himself as superman with a smug smirk...

Anyway - I hope you are both feeling ok. My nurse friend told me to lie with my legs in the air tomorrow to help the blood flow to the uterus, so that'll be my Friday!

 

[Britt11]

Lola and Britt, I am so super glad there are 3 of us (at least) doing this on the same day! I had a + opk this morning, but I am also on clomid and had a trigger shot this morning just to make sure the two mature follicles release. Like you Lola I am super worried I will miss the window - the hosp where I go said no BD today, save the spermies for tomorrow, so we did the dance yesterday and IUI is at 1.30pm (usually its in the morning on Fridays but my DH is on crutches and getting off them tomoz so they let us come in later ). DH's sperm analysis was infuriatingly perfect - infuriating because now he refers to himself as superman with a smug smirk...

Anyway - I hope you are both feeling ok. My nurse friend told me to lie with my legs in the air tomorrow to help the blood flow to the uterus, so that'll be my Friday!

oh well than you guys are golden, my DH has major morphology issues so we need more of a build up.
Okay did she say you have to lay with your legs up right after the procedure or just later in the day?
lol...they give me no advice at my clinic
ha ha
so excited for the 3 of us!!

 

[MarsMaiden]

Good luck for tomorrow Britt, Lola and zeezee!! Will be thinking of you all *hugs*